About IMHSA

IMHSA is a group of leading independent providers of mental health services. Our members provide a range of services covering areas such as child and adolescent mental health, eating disorders, personality disorders and learning disabilities. Collectively, we represent a significant proportion of the independent mental health sector.

IMHSA believes people with mental health needs should have a genuine choice over the location and range of care services available to them, so that the unique requirements of every person in need of care can be met.

We believe services for people with mental health needs must be high quality, deliver excellent health and care outcomes and enhance the patient experience. We aim to provide improved access and outcomes for people with mental health needs, in a system where they can access quality care and support in a timely manner.

IMHSA is committed to working in partnership with government, commissioners and the wider sector to bring about parity of esteem for mental health, ensure that effective policy and funding decisions are made and provide innovative and efficient services for patients. Our focus is on ensuring that patients are able to access the care they need, when they need it, and achieve positive outcomes.

We believe that patient access to essential care is being limited by failure to meet the high, and increasing, demand for mental health services. This is a result of inefficient commissioning practices and barriers in the system, which hinder innovation, increase waiting times and drive up the costs of care.

We are campaigning for policy change to overcome these issues and improve the lives of people suffering from mental health difficulties. We campaign broadly on the need to achieve parity of esteem and improve funding for mental health services, including activity on the development of the National Tariff.

Recent Campaigns

Patient Access and Outcomes Campaign

One of IMHSA's main areas of focus is on improving access and outcomes for mental health patients.